Choosing a Compost Bin

• Where and how can I buy a composter?
• I’d like to build my own compost bin. Where should I start?
• 5 Important Reasons to Compost

Where and How Can I Buy a Composter?

Two convenient payment options:

1. Bring a personal cheque made out to the District of North Vancouver to the North Shore Recycling Drop-off Depot (NO cash, credit or debit cards) any day of the week and one of our friendly staff will load up a bin for you. Only residents of the City of North Vancouver, District of North Vancouver, and District of West Vancouver can purchase compost bins at this subsidized rate.
2. Order online with your VISA or Mastercard, then print and bring your receipt down to the North Shore Recycling Drop-off Depot to pick up your bin. (Click here to Order - you will be taken to the District of North Vancouver webstore).

Composters are $45, tax included (subsidized price) and Wingdigger compost turners are $7.50. Both are available at the Recycling Drop-off Depot.

The Garden Gourmet backyard compost bin is a popular system that can turn leaves, kitchen scraps, and other yard clippings into a valuable fertilizer for your garden. Made from 100% recycled plastic, the Garden Gourmet soaks up heat from the sun, speeding up the composting process. Open the lid and add your kitchen scraps or yard trimmings. The sliding bottom door makes it easy to remove finished compost. Dimensions are 24”x24”x39”h.

We offer the Garden Gourmet backyard compost bin to North Shore residents (City of North Vancouver, District of North Vancouver and District of West Vancouver only) at a subsidized price of only $45, tax included (retail value $70). We also sell Wingdigger compost turning tools (a must-have for easy composting) for $7.50, which is our cost.

I Want to Build my Own Bin - Where Should I Start?

Metro Vancouver has put together some simple “do it yourself” instructions for constructing two types of wooden, rodent-resistant bins:

1. Single Wooden Compost Bin (approximately 3’x3’x3’) - Plans for a home-built single bin backyard composter. Download PDF (218 KB)
2. 3-Bin Wooden Composter System (approx 9’x3’x3’) - Suitable for those with larger than average yards! Download plans for a 3-bin system (263 KB PDF) (handles up to 2000kg of compost materials every 6 months)

5 Important Reasons to Compost:

1. Save water – Compost used in gardens & on lawns helps soil retain moisture and reduces the need for watering.
2. Cut your garbage - Did you know that we’ve reduced garbage in our region by over 50% since 1990 – and backyard composting is a big part of this success.
3. Protect our shared environment – Using compost reduces the need to use fertilizers and pesticides (runoff from these products is harmful for our local North Shore streams, fish, wildlife & people).
4. Reduce your contribution to climate change – Did you know that the decay of an average North Shore family’s food and garden waste generates almost one tonne of methane and carbon dioxide a year if thrown in the landfill? Composting kitchen and yard waste in a backyard composter contributes less to climate change than the methane emitted when that same waste is sent to the landfill. Not to mention the impacts on our neighbourhoods if less big trucks have to rumble through the streets collecting garbage & yard trimmings.
5. Make a natural fertilizer – Compost releases nutrients slowly, and provides a whole array of macronutrients and micronutrients to the soil. Great news for your lawn & garden!